The number one song today in 1965 was this pleasant-sounding, upbeat ditty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExH7h9Lk5HY

That was on the same day that ABC-TV premiered a cartoon, “The Beatles”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=980NfvGGEgs

The number one British song today in 1968:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNIIwqafrO4

Today in 1970 was the premiere of a sitcom based on the Cowsills:

Unlike the Cowsills, only two members of the on-camera Partridge Family performed with the Partridge Family band (which were a group of session musicians): David Cassidy, who sang lead, and Shirley Jones, who sang backup vocals.

Today in 1975, singer Jackie Wilson suffered a heart attack while singing “Lonely Teardrops” in a casino in New Jersey. The heart attack caused brain damage, and Wilson died in 1984.

Today in 1982, viewers of NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live” got to see Queen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsF5jId3Lts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7SX9dA7kXs

Today in 1989, viewers of “Saturday Night Live” got to see Neil Young:

Britain’s number one single today in 2006 wasn’t from a British act:

Birthdays start with John Locke (not the philosopher) of Spirit:

Owen “Onnie” McIntyre of the Average White Band:

Burleigh Drummond played, what else, drums for Ambrosia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=559JzBwgAC4

Two deaths of note:  today in 1980, John “Bonzo” Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin, died of a vodka overdose:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCvMKcNJCAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W6Tk-bPBfo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYq0MTvCGzA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxSEDnJ-1eA

Today in 1999, Stephen Canaday of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils died when his World War II plane stalled and crashed into a tree:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrbNeOEG0GY